Systems and methods for making channel assignments to reduce interference and increase capacity of wireless networks

ABSTRACT

Techniques for making channel assignments to reduce interference and increase capacity of wireless networks are described. In an implementation, a set of OFDMA subcarriers available for assignment is divided into a plurality of subsets of subcarriers that include at least a first subset for relatively strong signals within a cell, a second subset for relatively weak signals within the cell, and a third subset for signals within the cell that correspond to stations used by preferred users. Signals are received from a plurality of other stations, and relative signal strengths of the signals are determined based on a comparison between the signals. Each station is assigned a transmit subchannel that is formed for a predetermined period of time by one of the plurality of subsets of subcarriers, the transmit subchannel assigned based on a relative signal strength of a signal received from station.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to, pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/714,183, filed Dec. 13, 2012, whichis a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,897,796 filed Aug. 3, 2011, whichis a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 8,010,118, filed Jul. 13, 2007, whichis a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 7,257,376, filed Jun. 30, 2005, theentire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to wireless network channel assignments and moreparticularly to systems and methods for making such assignments in amanner to reduce interference and increase capacity in wirelessnetworks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In wireless systems it is often desired to use all channels (or all ofthe allocated spectrums) in every cell. These systems are called N=1reuse systems. In such systems it is possible for a mobile station (MS)to receive signals of equal power on the same channel from two basestations (BS).

Current methods of solving this problem include CDMA where differentcodes are transmitted by different BSs and, depending on the spreadingfactors, a signal can be extracted from the interference with greaterreliability. Unfortunately, in such systems spreading reduces theoverall through-put in direct proportion.

Another solution involves frequency hopping. In this case the BSsrandomly select channels to send to the MS and if only a few mobiles arein use the chances of collisions can be made small because each channelis used only a small fraction of the time. However, as loading(increased MSs) increases, collision possibility increases until with100% of possible users on at each BS collisions occur in every instance.The damage due to interference done at each instant depends upon theinstantaneous transmitter power of the interfering BSs and the relativedistances the MSs are from their respective BSs.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed a system and method for improving wireless systemcapacity by reducing collisions where the Signal to Interference Ratio(SIR) is high in systems having a channel reuse of 1. By intelligentlyassigning (ordering) the channel assignment in each of the interferingcells according to a pattern, for example, according to the distancefrom a BS, the MSs will become paired on the same channel in a manner toreduce interference between them. A second step is to optionally controlthe power of the BS and MS transmitter to further optimize user capacityor reduce interference.

In one embodiment, this intelligent assignment is accomplished byassigning MSs in one cell such that the MS having the strongest signalis assigned channel A while in the interfering cell, the MS with theweakest signal, is assigned to channel A. In another embodiment, certainpreferred MSs are assigned either interference-free channels or channelspaired with weak interference MSs.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. Itshould be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conceptionand specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis formodifying or designing other structures for carrying out the samepurposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by thoseskilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthe invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages will be better understoodfrom the following description when considered in connection with theaccompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, thateach of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration anddescription only and is not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference isnow made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of wireless cells ordered according to apattern;

FIG. 2 shows one assignment pattern;

FIG. 3 shows a simulation of theoretical capacity distributions forrandom and intelligent channel assignment; and

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of an algorithm for assigning channels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment 10 in which BS1 makes channel assignmentsfor MSs from the nearest (strongest power levels) to the farthest(weakest power levels), while BS2 makes channel assignments to MSs fromthe farthest (weakest power levels) to the nearest (strongest powerlevels). This assignment pattern is shown in FIG. 2.

Using this channel assignment, pattern MS1-A(1) having a strong signal,is assigned channel A in cell 1. MS7 which is at the edge of cell 2, andhas a relatively weak signal from BS2 is assigned the channel A in cell2. This assignment avoids the situation where MS3 and MS7 are paired onthe same channel. Were that to occur, S≈I for transmission in eachdirection from BS to MS and from MS to BS yielding high interference.

Each BS can make new channel assignments from time to time so that forthe most part the MSs remain assigned according to their relativestrength even though they are moving.

Intelligent assignments can be done in other ways to achieve differentobjectives. For example, some MSs can be designated as preferred usersso that the preferred user will always be paired with the weakestinterferer in every instance. For example, if MS4 was a preferred userit would be paired with MS7 in the example of FIG. 1.

Another objective may be to provide maximum capacity to a particularuser. In such a case a clear channel could be guaranteed to the user orthe user could be paired with the weakest user in the other cell.

Another objective may be to reduce interference in a cell by having a BSand/or selected MS transmit at a slower rate at reduced power.

The strategies discussed herein can be implemented at each BS withoutprior knowledge of the signals and interferences at the interfering BS.An alternative would be a centralized controller that has access to thesignal levels and the interference levels of all MSs, and which thenimplements a centralized strategy, say to maximize the capacity of theentire network. In principle, a computer could evaluate every possiblepairing combination and select from that a desired result such asmaximum network capacity or minimizing high interference conditions.

FIG. 3 shows simulation 30 of high to low ordering paired with the lowto high (graph 303) at the interfering BS as shown in FIG. 2. Graphs301, 302 and 303 represent the capacity distributions of the threestrategies. For example, at the 25% point, this means 75% of all usersenjoy capacities exceeding 4, 3 and 2.5 BPH respectively. Or looking theother way 25% of all user s have capacity less than 4, 3 and 2.5 BPH.The results using 16 sub-carriers show increased bandwidth (theoreticalcapacity), i.e., a significant reduction in high interference events fora greater number of users over either the preference channel assignmentmethod (graph 301) or random assignment (graph 302), all using 100% ofthe channels in both of the interfering cells. Note that usingpreference pairing (which can be a premium service available to selectnumber of MSs) a higher capacity (graph 301) can be achieved, but for alower number of MSs.

Graph 302 shows, for example, a typical OFDMA system where individual MSare assigned a subset of all the available sub-carriers. In a typicaltransmission slot the BS may have available 16, 32 or more sub-channels.A sub-channel usually has several sub-carriers, each carryingindependent information. Normally, the sub-channels are assigned on afirst come first serve basis to the mobile users who normally arerandomly distributed within their respective cells.

Pairing using graph 303 can be changed, for example, as discussed above,every 5 MS, to be sure that in cell 1 the strongest station remains onchannel A, while the weakest station is on channel D, while in cell 2the weakest station is on channel A, while the strongest is on channelD. Strongest can be defined using any convenient metric so long as thepotentially interfering cells agree on the metric. One example would beusing high signal to interference ratios (SIR) as a measure of strength.

Using the preference assignment cell 1 would leave, say the first 5-10%of channels open for assignment to preferred customers, and would leavethe last 5-10% of channels vacant. Cell 2 would do the reverse, i.e.,leave its first 5-10% of channels vacant and assign its preferredcustomers to the last 5-10% of channels. Also, it could be establishedthat preferred users would always get the weakest interferences from theother cell, as discussed above. Graph 301 was simulated for the case ofthe preferred user being paired with the weakest interferer (weakest oneout of 16 at random locations).

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment 40 of a process for assigning channels in awireless system. Process 401 controls requests for service from a MS(user) and process 402 optionally determines if the requesting user is apreferred user. If it is then process 403 assigns a channel according toa class of service or other identifying characteristic of the MSdepending upon contractual arrangements with the user.

If the requesting user is not a preferred user then process 404determines relative signal strength, as discussed above, and process405, following an assignment pattern as shown in FIG. 2, assigns aproper channel in conjunction with processes 406, 407, 408 and 409 whichcheck to be sure there is no prohibition on the use of certain channels(such as, for example, would occur if certain channels were to bemaintained vacant).

Process 410 controls the reassignment from time to time of the channelassignments to insure that the pattern established by FIG. 2 ismaintained, at least on the average.

In one embodiment the allocated spectrum is divided into channels. Achannel is defined as a portion (may be all) of the allocated spectrumbeing used for a specified period of time. The inventive concepts applyto FDMA, TDMA, TD-CDMA, OFDMA or combinations thereof.

Note that the capacity of a BS or the capacities of certain MSs can beraised or lowered by trading power for throughput (capacity). A simpleexample: If a user needs less capacity, then lower the power and changethe modulation rate.

C=log 2 (1+S/N+I). Reduce S to ¼S and the new C=½ the old C.

Increase S to 4 S and the new C is doubled.

This is a tradeoff. Every time the BS lowers power it helps the neighborcell, but if it increases power to certain MS it causes moreinterference. However, if the channels that are increased in power arepart of the reserved set, then it may not matter.

Although the present invention and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, thescope of the present application is not intended to be limited to theparticular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, compositionof matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. Asone of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from thedisclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing orlater to be developed that perform substantially the same function orachieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodimentsdescribed herein may be utilized according to the present invention.Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within theirscope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter,means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: dividing a set of OFDMA subcarriers available for assignment into a plurality of subsets of subcarriers that include at least a first subset of subcarriers for a first subset of signals that are relatively strong in comparison to signals received at a first station from a plurality of other stations, a second subset of subcarriers for a second subset of signals that are relatively weak in comparison to the signals received at the first station from the plurality of other stations, and a third subset of subcarriers for a third subset of signals that correspond to stations associated with preferred users; receiving at the first station the signals from the plurality of other stations; determining relative signal strengths of the signals received from the plurality of other stations based on a comparison between the signals; and assigning to each station of the plurality of other stations a transmit subchannel formed for a predetermined period of time by one of the plurality of subsets of subcarriers, the transmit subchannel assigned to a station based on a relative signal strength of a signal received from the station.
 2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first station comprises a base station and at least one of the plurality of other stations comprises a mobile station.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: determining that a signal strength of a signal received from at least one of the plurality of other stations is relatively weak in comparison to the signals received at the first station from the plurality of other stations; and assigning the at least one of the plurality of other stations to a transmit subchannel formed by the second subset of subcarriers based on the determination that the signal strength received from at least one of the plurality of other stations is relatively weak in comparison to the signals received at the first station from the plurality of other stations.
 4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising: determining that a signal strength of a signal received from at least one of the plurality of other stations is relatively strong in comparison to the signals received at the first station from the plurality of other stations; and assigning the at least one of the plurality of other stations to a transmit subchannel formed by the first subset of subcarriers based on the determination that the signal strength received from at least one of the plurality of other stations is relatively strong in comparison to the signals received at the first station from the plurality of other stations.
 5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising adjusting power corresponding to an assigned transmit subchannel to effect a change in capacity associated with the assigned transmit subchannel.
 6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising causing a change to a transmit modulation rate of at least one of the plurality of other stations for an assigned transmit subchannel.
 7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein determining the relative signal strengths of the signals received from the plurality of other stations comprises using a signal-to-interference ratio as a measure of strength of a respective signal.
 8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising dividing the set of OFDMA subcarriers available for assignment into at least a fourth subset of subcarriers for relatively weak signals within an additional cell adjacent to the cell in comparison to other signals within the additional cell.
 9. A method, the method comprising: dividing a set of OFDMA subcarriers available for assignment into a plurality of subsets of subcarriers that include at least a first subset of subcarriers for a first subset of signals that are relatively strong in comparison to signals received at the base station from a plurality of mobile stations, a second subset of subcarriers for a second subset of signals that are relatively weak in comparison to the signals received at the base station from the plurality of mobile stations, and a third subset of subcarriers for a third subset of signals that correspond to preferred mobile stations; receiving the signals from the plurality of mobile stations; determining relative signal strengths of the signals received from the plurality of mobile stations based on a comparison between the signals; and assigning to each mobile station a transmit subchannel formed for a predetermined period of time by one of the plurality of subsets of subcarriers, the transmit subchannel assigned to a mobile station based on a relative signal strength of a signal received from the mobile station.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of the received signals comprises a request for service.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the assigned subchannel comprises a modulation rate that is adjustable based on a capacity of a corresponding mobile station.
 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the relative signal strengths are determined based on a signal-to-interference ratio associated with a respective signal.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein: at least one received signal is determined to be relatively weak in comparison to the signals received at the base station from the plurality of mobile stations; and a mobile station that transmitted the at least one received signal is assigned to a transmit subchannel formed by the second subset of subcarriers based on the determination that the at least one received signal is relatively weak in comparison to the signals received at the base station from the plurality of mobile stations.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein: at least one received signal is determined to be relatively strong in comparison to the signals received at the base station from the plurality of mobile stations; and a mobile station that transmitted the at least one received signal is assigned to a transmit subchannel formed by the first subset of subcarriers based on the determination that the at least one received signal is relatively strong in comparison to the signals received at the base station from the plurality of mobile stations.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one mobile station is assigned the transmit subchannel based at least in part on a level of interference from another mobile station in an additional cell adjacent to the cell.
 16. A method, the method comprising: transmitting a signal comprising a request for service to a base station; and receiving a transmit subchannel assignment, the transmit subchannel assignment being drawn from one of a plurality of subsets of OFDMA subcarriers based on a signal strength of the signal compared to signal strengths associated with one or more other mobile stations within a same cell, the plurality of OFDMA subcarriers including a first subset of subcarriers for a first subset of signals that are relatively strong in comparison to other signals within a cell, a second subset of subcarriers for a second subset of signals that are relatively weak in comparison to the other signals within the cell, and a third subset of subcarriers for signals within the cell that correspond to mobile stations used by preferred users, the transmit subchannel assignment corresponding to a transmit subchannel that is formed for a predetermined duration of time.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal strength is measured based on a signal-to-interference ratio of the signal.
 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the subchannel assignment is based on an interference level of one or more additional stations in a second cell.
 19. The method of claim 16, further comprising: receiving a transmit subchannel reassignment to a different transmit subchannel based on a change in the signal strength of the signal.
 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the assigned transmit subchannel comprises a modulation rate that is adjustable based on a capacity of the mobile station. 